Why does the date change every year?

Hindu festivals are fixed by the lunar month and tithi, which don't line up with the Gregorian calendar. The date therefore drifts each year, and shifts further in a year carrying an intercalary (adhika) month.

How was this date computed?

Saptami tithi of the Shukla paksha in purnimanta Magha, prevailing at sunrise. Computed from the sidereal (Lahiri) panchang for New Delhi.

Ratha Saptami 2027 - Date and How It's Fixed

Ratha Saptami in 2027

Ratha Saptami falls on 13 February 2027, a Saturday in 2027.

What Ratha Saptami is

Surya's turn northward, kept as the Sun god's birthday. The bath is taken at sunrise with arka leaves, which is why the date follows the sunrise tithi rather than a later window.

How this date was worked out

The rule: Saptami tithi of the Shukla paksha in purnimanta Magha, prevailing at sunrise. The date is derived from the panchang - the same computation that drives this site's daily pages. Note that the day is fixed by the tithi running during the observance window, not the one at sunrise; that is why several festivals land on a day whose sunrise tithi is something else entirely.

Regional variation

These dates are computed for New Delhi and follow the north-Indian (purnimanta) convention. Tamil, Bengali and Kerala traditions differ on several festivals, and a tithi boundary falling near a window edge can shift the day for a distant city. Check a local panchang before committing to a fast or an event.

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Frequently asked

What date is Ratha Saptami in 2027?: 13 February 2027, a Saturday.
Why does the date change every year?: Hindu festivals are fixed by the lunar month and tithi, which don't line up with the Gregorian calendar. The date therefore drifts each year, and shifts further in a year carrying an intercalary (adhika) month.
How was this date computed?: Saptami tithi of the Shukla paksha in purnimanta Magha, prevailing at sunrise. Computed from the sidereal (Lahiri) panchang for New Delhi.

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When is Ratha Saptami in 2027?